The Blessing of Change

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.” ~Genesis 12:1 NLT
 
Last week we talked about “Disciplining the Desire” and how the effects of not getting caught feeds our flesh in wanting to continue to do wrong.  Today we are going to talk about the consequences of those actions as it relates to God’s will for our lives. God created us in His image and with a purpose for the kingdom that He has every intention to use us for. Are we ready for our change of direction?
 
Last week I talked about me getting caught taking my mom’s car.  I said in that devotion that I got into some “serious life changing trouble”.  My life changed as a result of that punishment as I was spiritually set in another direction. What I didn’t cover last week was that I was living with my mother and stepfather. I was a young son/stepson that was giving his mom and stepfather a hard time because of the ‘you are not my daddy’ syndrome. 
 
Well this last attempt at rebellion was a ‘last straw’ for my mom. The agreement had been made that I leave Alabama, the home of all my grade school and middle school education, football career, friends and family, and return to the city of my birth to live with my father for my high school years. Basically leaving my, ‘…native country…’ and everything I knew and was used to.
 
In the text above, Abraham was directed by God to trust Him and leave everything he knew.  The trust and faith were so strong that Abraham didn’t know where he was going. He was just given an order to leave, and he did. He walked his journey trusting in God.  And the results of that included him leading God’s people to the promise land.
 
I didn’t see this when I was directed.  I was young and not in God’s Word enough to recognize what was happening to me, but the spirit God gave me guided me.  I was able to walk my journey.  Even though I didn’t know what was ahead.  Even though I was scared at times, I was protected and allowed to make decisions good and bad. But everything I went through came together in the purpose God created in me.
 
You see, if I had remained where I was, I would have never been in the position to be used in the places God intended for me to be. If I had stayed in Alabama, I would have never attended the historic Pearl High school and met the friends that I hold dear to this day.  If I had stayed in Alabama, I would not have attended historic Fisk University and met the friends and fraternity brothers I hold dear.  If I had stayed in Alabama, I would not have joined the Army and developed the relationships and received the training and experience that helped develop the qualities required for the strong foundation needed to support the man I would become.   
 
All of this allowed me to become the man I became in Christ almost 30 years later.  My life, my wife and my children may not be as they are had I not accepted ‘change’. When I embraced the change in my life, God turned my short comings into huge blessings. For that I am forever grateful. God’s Miracles only happen in His time and in His area of choice.  That is why when God says move, we must move.  We may not like some of the aspects of the journey, but these aspects play an important role in our Christian development. 
 
May God continue to bless and keep you under His protection on your journey in Jesus’ name.

Amen